I am an avid “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) fan. Almost every Saturday night at 10:29 p.m., you can find me curled up in a blanket watching the show. But to be honest, SNL is struggling. It’s been a while since I’ve actually laughed out loud at something. But I need my weekly laugh. It’s part of my routine. It’s my last hurrah for the weekend. The next day is a Sunday, meaning a day filled with homework so I need to find something funny. I had heard great things about Jimmy Fallon, so I decided to watch his new show, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, to see if it would make me laugh.
Fallon took over “The Tonight Show” from its previous host, Jay Leno, on Feb. 17, 2014. Fallon previously hosted “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” for five years. I never watched “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” but I would occasionally come across clips that went viral. For example, when Fallon dressed up as a mom with Michelle Obama to show the Evolution of Mom Dancing.
“The Tonight Show” is a late night talk show that has been on the air since 1954. Fallon opens with a monologue, usually commenting about the news, and then usually does a skit with his guest before sitting down and talking with them. Later in the show, he’ll do another skit or interactive game with the guest, such as a Lip-Sync Battle. He does a great job of integrating the guest and making them a true part of the show. And with social media and the internet, guests are no longer just guests. They become forever immortalized as a part of The Tonight Show.
Fallon does a great job connecting with his guests. He has the ability to make guests seem like the coolest person ever. And the guests that Fallon chose during his opening week, including Will Smith, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Michelle Obama and Justin Timberlake, were perfect. Fallon makes the guests feel comfortable and really connects with them on a personal level.
If there was one emotion that could sum up Jimmy Fallon’s attitude during his debut episode, it would be excitement. I felt like I was watching a little boy sitting in his father’s office. Fallon constantly mentioned how he grew up watching “The Tonight Show” and now he is the one that little kids will watch. Fallon was constantly thanking his audience, his peers, his family, his friends or his workmates. He even thanked the set designer.
That excitement was contagious. I was smiling so much and felt proud of Fallon. I felt personally connected to Fallon, even though this was my first time watching it.
I laughed quite a bit watching Fallon’s first episode for “The Tonight Show” and easily watched the rest of the episodes for that week. I love the warmth, personality and humor on the show and it will definitely be something I turn to when I need to procrastinate.
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